For the captains of industry--men like Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, J. P. Morgan, and Henry Ford--the Gilded Age is a time of big money. Technology boomed with the invention of trains, telephones, electric lights, harvesters, vacuum cleaners, and more. But for millions of immigrant workers, it is a time of big struggles, with adults and children alike working 12 to 14 hours a day under extreme, dangerous conditions. The disparity between the rich and the poor was dismaying, which prompted some people to action. In An Age of Extremes, you'll meet Mother Jones, Ida Tarbell, Big Bill Haywood, Sam Gompers, and other movers and shakers, and get swept up in the enthusiasm of Teddy Roosevelt. You'll also watch the United States take its greatest role on the world stage since the Revolution, as it enters the bloody battlefields of Europe in World War I. Use for six weeks in Year 3 Unit 4, and three weeks in Year 4 Unit 1. 224 pages PB

This book provides solid information about Carnegie that students will find helpful during their study of this robber baron. Any biography about Carnegie will likely be adequate for your studies. Used for 4 weeks in Year 3 Unit 4, and in Primer. 24 pages Library Bound

This book "discusses the life of the self-made millionaire who made his fortune in the steel industry and is remembered for his generous donations that built libraries, universities, and research facilities." 112 pages HB/DJ

The voices of real immigrants -- their suffering in steerage, their first glimpse of the Statue of Liberty, and their journey through the Great Hall -- complete this touching look into an important part of America's history. A pivotal time and place is brought to life through a combination of many voices speaking in harmony. 48 pages HB/Dust Jacket

This book by popular author, Jean Fritz, "follows the life of the dynamic twenty-sixth president, discussing his conservation work, hunting expeditions, family life, and political career." Although you could use any biography about Roosevelt, this one is keyed to the questions in the Student Activity Pages. Read for two weeks in Year 3 Unit 4, and two weeks in Year 4 Unit 1 (plus summer reading). 127 pages PB

Children will enjoy this colorful story of why people came to America and how many of them passed through Ellis Island. Beautiful watercolors accentuate the fact that there are all nationalities respresented in the land of the free. Used for 1 week in Year 3 Unit 4 and in Primer. 40 pages HB/DJ

This biography for young readers tells the story of the nineteenth-century writer of more then 9,000 hymns. When Fanny was just a baby, she was treated for an eye infection, but the treatment was far worse than the infection, and Fanny was blinded as a result. This biography shows how Fanny accepted this incident in her life as a gift from the Lord. She served the Lord with amazing insight and love not in spite of her challenges but because of them. Replacement title for Fanny Crosby: The Hymn Writer by Bernard Ruffin. Used for 3 weeks in Year 4 Unit 1. 117 pages PB

A powerful tribute with many never-before published photographs and sometimes heartbreaking stories of patients and medical staff of the Ellis Island hospital. Replacement title for Island of Hope: The Story of Ellis Island and the Journey to America by Martin W. Sandler. Used in Unit 4 of Year 3. 185 pages HB

Illustrated with historical artifacts and photographs, a fresh look at a pioneering American innovator traces Carver‚??s life, discoveries, and legacy as the first African-American to attend Iowa State College and as an inspirational conservationist.

Students will read a "wide variety of documents to show how Americans dealt with an age of extremes from 1887 to 1900, including rapid industrialization, unemployment, unprecedented wealth, and immigration." This title is one in a series that uses primary documents, including photos, drawings, and quotations, in order to give the student the view of a historian. 192 pages PB

Textbooks interpret history, but this book, which has been compiled and edited by a prominent historian, is a collection of primary resources. Students will examine the era of colonial imperialism and the expansion of approaches to politics, medicine, and social customs. You'll use this book beginning in Year 3 Unit 3 and concluding with Year 4 Unit 2. 175 pages HB

Kids on Strike! tells the story of children who stood up for their rights against powerful company owners. By the early 1900s nearly two million children were in the United States work force. Their tiny fingers, strong eyesight, and boundless energy made them perfect employees. But after years and years of working long hours every day under harsh and inhumane conditions, children began to organize and make demands in order to protect themselves. They fought for better wages, fairer housing costs, and safer working environments. 208 pages PB

When kindhearted Sara Crewe arrives at Miss Minchin's boarding school, she seems just like a real little princess. Then a sudden misfortune turns her life upside down, and Sara is banished to the school's dreary attic and must work for her living. It takes all of Sara's imagination and a little bit of magic to turn her misfortune around and prove she is, at heart, a little princess. Frances Hodgson Burnett's story of how Sara Crewe survives hardship and finds happiness again was originally published in 1905 and has won the hearts of children the world over. Although you can use any edition of this children's favorite, we recommend this one because of the quality of paper, the illustrations, and the fact that it is hardbound. This one will stay on your shelf for years and you want it to last! Read for three weeks in Unit 4. 336 pages HB/DJ

"Kaiulani, who died in 1899 at the age of 23, was Hawaiis last princess. Even before the tumultuous events that led to her country's eventual annexation by the United States, her personal life had been sad and difficult." This book not only recounts the significant events in her life, but also gives us a view into the movement toward statehood. 252 pages PB

"When their father invites a mail-order bride to come live with them in their prairie home, Caleb and Anna are captivated by their new mother and hope that she will stay." This heart-warming story will be a favorite that you will read for one week in Unit 4. 64 pages PB

A Scholastic biography, this book tells how a slave because one of America's most famous scientists. His discoveries made the soil better for cotton crops, and provided new ways to use peanuts and sweet potatoes! 96 pages PB

This book "describes the creation of the huge statue given by France to the United States and its erection in New York Harbor as a symbol of liberty." Pleasurable reading with excellent illustrations! Read for one week in Unit 4. 48 pages PB

In an inspiring pairing, Amy Hest and P.J. Lynch create an unforgettable tribute to the immigrant experience. Jessie lives with her grandmother in a poor village in the valleys of eastern Europe. When, to everyone's surprise, young Jessie is chosen by the village rabbi to travel to America, and to leave her grandmother behind, they both feel their hearts will break. 40 pages PB

Published by BJU Press, this biography about Amy Carmichael tells about the people and events that shaped her life and the mission work that she accomplished by taking care of Hindu children. Read for two weeks in Year 4 Unit 1. 187 pages PB

Yukon River an Adventure to the Gold Fields of the KlondikeLourie, Peter

This book replaces Klondike Gold, which has gone out-of-print and is read for one week in unit 4. This is the story of a modern-day canoe trip down the Yukon River to the gold fields of the Klondike. It's a really nice book with slick pages, beautiful photos, and interesting text. 47 pages PB